Chelsea captain Reece James has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for his abusive language to an official after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
It’s alleged that the 23-year old used ‘mproper and/or insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official’ after the game Chelsea lost courtesy of Ollie Watkins’ lone goal.
“Reece James has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Chelsea’s Premier League game against Aston Villa on Sunday, 24 September,” Part of the statement from the FA read.
“It’s alleged that the defender used improper and/or insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official in the tunnel after the game. Reece James has until Friday, 29 September, to provide a response to this charge.”
Malo Gusto was shown a straight red card in second half of that game after the center referee visited the pitch-side VAR monitor. Initially, Gusto was given a yellow for his challenge on Lucas Digne, however, after visiting the monitor, the decision was changed.
James is currently not involved with the Chelsea squad due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out since their first game of the season against Liverpool.
He is expected to be back on 21st October when Chelsea plays Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues currently sit 14th on the log with just five points in their opening six games.
